‘Rolls Royce’ of a Building Saved

Published on: 13 Aug, 2025
Updated on: 19 Aug, 2025

Farnham Museum. WBC

By Chris Caulfield

local democracy reporter

The “Rolls Royce” of Farnham buildings will be repaired after planning permission was granted to carry out work on the Grade I listed architecture.

Farnham Museum in Wilmer House, West Street, is undergoing refurbishment work but due to its rare heritage status needs special permission to have any work done that involve changes to existing design materials or the techniques used in its creation.

Last week, plans to replace two chimney stacks and a parapet wall were unanimously rubber stamped by Waverley Borough Council’s August planning committee, as they discussed its value to the community.

Cllr Peter Clark, Waverley Council

Committee Chair Peter Clark (Farnham Residents, Rowledge) said: “I think this won’t be the last time we see applications coming in for the Farnham Museum which appears to be more famous than the actual museum itself.

“It could have ended badly but fortunately work is starting and it’s good news.”

The estimated cost to repair the site, dubbed “one of the most important buildings in Surrey” is about £1.7 million.

Wilmer House had been due to receive essential repairs funded by a £734,000 grant from the Arts Council but further inspections revealed deeper issues including decaying brickwork and collapsing window arches, increasing the costs to £1.72 million.

The approved planning application was for listed building consent – with the committee only able to consider whether the work was likely to affect the architectural character of the building, or its historic interest.

The council’s heritage officer as well as Historic England were consulted on the application and it is considered that the work would cause no harm to the Grade I listed building,

Cllr Carole Cockburn

Cllr Carole Cockburn (Cons, Farnham Bourne) said: “ We have always wanted to save that building and I’m delighted that it’s being saved.

“We have a lot of listed buildings in Farnham. This is Grade I listed, in a very prominent place in the high street.

“When they put the scaffolding up I thought, this was the end… It will be interesting to see how quickly we can get it looking back to how it should look.

“As Cllr Clark said, there will be other matters that come forward but at least we know we are going to save this building which in its own way is unique and one of many in Farnham that we want to preserve.”

Cllr Graham White

Cllr Graham White (Farnham Residents, Farnham North West) said: “We were invited to go and have a look at the work and it really is incredible what they are doing…it’s quite extraordinary with the bricks, some of which are being made on site.

“It really is fascinating to see how they preserve things and the original timber frames are still in good condition.”

Cllr Daniel Husseini

Cllr Daniel Husseini (Con, Godalming, Binscombe and Charterhouse) added: “It’s brilliant to see the building, how much it means to Farnham and it was described as the Rolls Royce of buildings in Farnham.

“The extent of work they have put in to keep it as much as possible as it was reconstructing it using the best possible techniques.”